THE patient watchdog for NHS care in North Wales says it can’t accept plans to overhaul hospital services as they stand as ‘there is a lack of detail’.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which needs to save £65m, has made a number of proposals across North Wales, including axing Flint Community Hospital and closing the minor injuries and X-ray departments at Mold Community Hospital.

But the Betsi Cadwaladr Community Health Council (CHC) said ‘some of the proposals lack important detail’ and it’s not certain the plans are in the interest of service users.

The board said it would work with the CHC to address its concerns.

Last week the watchdog published a 13-page summary of the CHC’s response to BCUHB’s consultation on changes to the NHS in north Wales.

It states: “Until the CHC has seen the health board’s response to its concerns it will not be able to say whether any of the proposals are in the interest of people who use services.”

It goes on to say that if the health board doesn’t provide the assurances requested it will refer the plans to the Health Minister Lesley Griffiths.

The CHC’s chief officer, Pat Billingham, said: “There are aspects of the proposed changes that the CHC agrees with and indeed welcomes many of the potential developments.

“There is some greater clarity needed, however, on some issues of concern, for example around rurality, joint working with local authorities and others, respite care for patients and carers, finance and workforce.”

Jack Reece, chairman of the Save Flint Cottage Hospital campaign group, said he welcomes the news.

“The CHC’s response backs up what we have been saying all along,” he said.

BCUHB confirmed it has received and acknowledged the CHC’s response to its proposals, and the watchdog ‘recognised the significant challenges that the NHS faces in the coming years’.

“We welcome the CHC’s broad support for the reasoning behind the proposals, the general direction we wish to follow and for a number of our specific proposals, as well as their agreement that these are in line with national policy,” said the health board statement.

“We also recognise that they have expressed concerns regarding the detail of some of the proposals and over the next six to eight weeks will work with the CHC to respond to these.”